Kabul car bomb explodes near military airport

A car bomb exploded near the entrance to Kabul's military airport early Tuesday in an apparent attack on an international convoy, killing at least two civilians and wounding six, Afghan officials said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast.

U.S. and NATO forces said they did not yet have details on the incident or any casualties, but Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zemeri Bashary said at least two Afghan civilians were killed and six wounded.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, and said that a suicide car bomber rammed into a NATO convoy and destroyed three Toyota Land Cruisers.

The attack appeared to be aimed at an international convoy, said Rohullah, a police official for the area who like many Afghans goes by one name.

A witness said he saw the car ram into a line of SUVs.

"I saw three or fourLand Cruisers for the foreigners just in front of the gate then there was a car and it hit them, then blew up," said Humayun, who watched the attack from his nearby shop.

The blast occurred about 8:22 a.m. local time and the air was still thick with smoke about an hour later. Fire trucks ringed the area.

U.S. forces spokesman Lt.-Col. Todd Vician confirmed an explosion south of the airport, but said he did not yet have further details.

Insurgent attacks, often deadly, occur in Kabul despite tight security and blast walls. Suicide bombers have hit government buildings and gunmen have overrun ministries.

NATO said two militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the rear gate of Camp Phoenix outside Kabul late Monday, but there were no injuries to anyone inside and no damage to the base. Afghan police said the two militants were killed.

In the run-up to the Aug. 20 elections, a suicide attack near the main gate of NATO headquarters killed seven people, gunmen briefly took over a bank in the city, and insurgents fired on the presidential palace and unleashed suicide car bombers on NATO convoys.